Brewers acquire catcher Bo Naylor from Guardians

Bo Naylor. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Brewers acquire catcher Bo Naylor from Guardians

By Vanessa Serrao | Last updated Aug 1, 2026 11:09 AM ET

The Milwaukee Brewers have acquired Canadian catcher Bo Naylor, as well as right-handed pitcher Codi Heuer, from the Cleveland Guardians in exchange for right-handed reliever Craig Yoho and outfielder Blake Perkins. This could be the start of more moves to come before Monday's Aug. 3 trade deadline at 6 p.m. EST.

Naylor owns a .438 OPS across 28 games with the Guardians this season and a .776 OPS in Triple-A. He also hit a career-high 14 home runs with the Guardians in 2025.

Yoho has logged a 3.15 ERA and a 0.85 WHIP across 20 innings this season. Both Naylor and Heuer are being assigned to Triple-A. Perkins who is 29, is slashing .157/.250/.258 across 55 games and could benefit from a change of environment.

With the Guardians going 3-7 in their last 10 games, both Perkins and Yoho provide the team with ''reinforcements,'' according to USA TODAY's Bob Nightengale.

The Cleveland Guardians, slipping away in the AL Central, grab some reinforcements with outfielder Blake Perkins and reliever Craig Yoho from the Milwaukee Brewers for catcher Bo Naylor and reliever Codi Heuer.@JonHeyman on it.
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) August 1, 2026

Can Brewers transform Bo Naylor's career?

The Brewers have enhanced their catching depth behind the plate by acquiring a low-risk, high-upside addition with Naylor. He was considered a decent catcher in 2024 and 2025 and will be a back-up to William Contreras and Gary Sanchez.

But the move also provides them with instant depth and flexibility if they decide to trade Sanchez. Overall, Naylor will be a reclamation project for the Brewers who will attempt to revamp his 2026 struggles.

Naylor posted a .143 batting average with two home runs and seven RBI across 28 games before being optioned to the minors this season. The Brewers were successful in transforming former Guardians top prospect Jake Bauers and hope to do the same with Naylor.

As a former first-round draft pick, the Brewers have acquired a controllable and cost-effective option whose previous flashes of dominance have the potential to be revived, especially with a team that is looking to make a deep push in the postseason this year.

Vanessa Serrao

Serrao is a freelance baseball writer who has covered all MLB teams, with particular expertise on the Toronto Blue Jays. She is a member of the Internet Baseball Writers Association of America.

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